Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“I know. I hate this. We’re going to have to tell them soon.”
She stands quickly, glaring. “What?”
“What other choice is there?” I snap, keeping my voice low. “We can’t lie to them forever.”
“Okay, great,” she says sarcastically. “So, we’ll sit them down and explain, ‘Hey, guys! We kissed at your wedding, and Miles went down on me last night.’”
No, I almost tell her. We belong together and have ever since I first laid eyes on her. Nobody can stand between us, not even my brother. We’ll let them know the truth.
“We can’t avoid it forever.”
“I know, but not now. We need more time to think through what we’ll say and how to make them understand. It will be a challenge because I don’t even understand.”
I wonder if that’s a lie. If she understands more than she’s letting on. If she knows there’s a fierce beast in me that will never stop.
“If this changes your feelings about the date, I get it,” she says.
I laugh darkly. “Nothing could change my feelings about that. What time do you finish work tomorrow?”
“Five.”
“Perfect. I’ve got to head into the office. I’m finalizing the details of a few deals. I can pick you up after.”
“But…” Layla looks at the ceiling, where Noah and Elena are probably talking, discussing hiding this big secret. “We’ll have to have, uh, alibis. God, this is bad, isn’t it?”
“Nobody could ever accuse us of being afraid of breaking taboos,” I say, trying to keep my voice level.
“No,” she says, smiling shakily. “I guess you’re right. I should hate myself for being excited about tomorrow, right?”
“You don’t deserve hate from anybody, including yourself.”
Elena and Noah walk downstairs a minute later, Elena striding across the living room and pulling Layla into a hug.
“I don’t want to fight,” she says, “but I can’t discuss this. Please, give me a little time, okay?”
Layla hugs her mom tightly. “Okay, I will. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“But I deserve to know, Mom. Whatever it is.”
“Let me make us all some dinner. How does that sound?”
“I’ll help,” Noah says, following her from the room.
Layla lowers her voice. “Hold off on the private investigator stuff for now. I can’t add another betrayal on top of everything else.”
“Whatever you want,” I tell her.
I’ll always do whatever she wants.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Layla
“A date?” Tess says down the phone as I wait down the street from the restaurant, sitting on a bench in the waning sunlight.
“I know. Bring on the judgment.”
“Hey, don’t be like that. I’m sorry if I came on strong before. You know I only want the best for you.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I guess I’m tense.”
“How was Graham today? Did he say anything about the photo?”
“Nope. But he was maybe one-tenth less mean than usual, so that’s progress.”
“What a mystery,” Tess mutters.
“It’s a weird situation, but that could describe my whole life right now.”
“I’m excited for you.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” she says firmly. “Okay, the whole step-uncle thing isn’t ideal, but I’ve never heard you this giddy. Smitten. It’s your first real date.”
I allow her words to spread a glowing smile across my face.
“Any advice?”
“Yes, actually,” she says. “Don’t hate me for it, but forget about Noah and your mom. Forget about the guilt. Just try to enjoy it. Your problems will still be there when you come home.”
“Okay, but only because you told me to.”
She laughs, and I do my best to join in, but as usual, the guilt follows soon after. I shouldn’t be joking about this.
“He’s here,” I say when I spot his car.
“Have fun, and remember, I want all the details.”
After hanging up, I walk over to the car, wondering if he will notice my outfit change. I brought a dress to work like the one I wore to the reception, blue with lacy arms.
I know I made the right choice when he steps from the car. His attention fixates on me right away, pure obsession. He walks right up to me, then stops, stepping back. I could tell he wanted to grab and kiss me, press against me passionately, but he knew we couldn’t do that here.
“You look beautiful,” he says fiercely. “Hell, you always do. This is an extra level.”
His compliment has me beaming. I may listen to Tess’s advice. Forget about Mom and my stepdad. Focus on my step-uncle instead.
“You do, too,” I say. “Handsome, I mean. Not beautiful.”
He’s wearing a pale blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the top two bottoms open, tempting me.
“You’re saying I’m not beautiful?” he smirks. “I should be offended.”
He opens the car door for me, and I climb inside. When he drops into the driver’s seat, his mouth tightens, and his eyes get hazy. He’s thinking about Mom and Noah and about how wrong this is.
“My friend gave me some advice just now,” I say. “Tess, my bestie since we were kids. I…” I pause, realizing I haven’t told him.